“I am making sure that regulators have the powers they need to take action when companies don’t follow the rules, including higher penalties that are quicker and easier to enforce. Miss Coffey said: “People are concerned about the impacts of sewage entering our rivers and seas and I am crystal clear that this is totally unacceptable. Ingesting coliforms from human waste can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and in the elderly or immune-compromised it can cause more serious infections in the lungs, skin, eyes, nervous system, kidneys or liver. Previously, Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer warned that bathers and other water users could become seriously ill by ingesting bacteria from human faeces.

The Environment Secretary has demanded an assessment and action plan from every water and sewerage company in England, with suppliers told to prioritise fixing spills in bathing waters and nature sites. The Government is seeking to change how water companies are punished for illegally polluting waters, so they can be quickly fined up to £250 million rather than waiting for lengthy criminal prosecutions to conclude.

Water companies could face immediate fines for polluting rivers, lakes and the sea as Thérèse Coffey demanded to see their action plans for stopping sewage leaks.

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